My Town Cascade: Store owner on alert for booze bandit | Crime

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CASCADE, Mich.—The owner of an upscale liquor store is asking for the public’s help in tracking down a booze bandit.

Paul Makkar says the thief has been a regular visitor to both of his International Beverage stores for more than a year, but it was the sharp eyes of a new employee that alerted him to the man’s slippery fingers. Thursday night, the new worker noticed the suspect was lingering in the liquor aisle of the store on Cascade Road, and alerted Makkar. After reviewing the store’s surveillance video, Makkar determined the thief had taken five bottles of liquor worth about $100 altogether in the span of about five minutes. He says the video also shows the man attempting to steal mini-bottles of liquor from the store counter.

Makkar says the man has bought items while visiting the store in the past, but he is concerned the thief may have been stealing from both of his stores for a long period of time.

Makkar says the man used to come in with younger adults who may not have been of legal drinking age. When the store changed its policies prohibiting underage patrons from being present during a liquor purchase, the man started showing up alone. Makkar suspects the thief may be stealing liquor for people under the age of 21.

Makkar says the man usually walks to the store, and may be dropped off and picked up in the area. He has filed a report with police. Anyone with information in this case is asked to call the store at (616) 954-0262.